The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-05-12
NEITHER NORTH NOR SOUTH.
Senator Sherman's Tardy Recognition oi
the Truth That "the Bloody Chasm'
Should BE Bridged by All Patriots.

the Truth That "the Bloody Chasm"
Should Be Bridged by All Patriots.
In speaking of Senator Sherman's
Nashville speech we quoted some of the
passages in which he did justice to the
sincerity of the views held by the Con-
federates, and to the courage with
which ethey maintained them in the
field. There was no fling of rebel or
traitor or slave-driver. The war, he
said, was perhaps sure to come. 1t was
terrible necessity. Then he ex-
claimed: cit is over, thank God! but
the courage, bravery and fortitude of
both sides are now the pride and herit-
age of us ALL" This was in the spirit
of Mr.. Summers bill to regulate the
army register and the regimental
colors, of which the preamble was as
follows: "Whereas the National unity
and good will among fellow-citizens
can be assured only through oblivion
of past differences, and it is contrary
to the usage OF civilized nations to per-
petuate the memory of civil war, be it
enacted" etc. That was in 1872. The
bill prohibited the continued printing
in the register of ''the names of bat
ties with fellow-citizens," or placing
them upon the regimental colors of the
United States.
The late letter of President Cleve-
land acknowledging the invitation to
attend the unvailing of the statute of
General Albert Sidney Johnston was
in the same tone as the remarks of
Senator Sherman and the preamble of
Senator Sumner. 1t was magnan-
imous appeal to the vi ,tor to recognize,
not the righteousness of the cause, but
the sincerity and courage of the van
quished, and it came from those who
shared the defeat, but who have ac-
quiesed honorably and entirely IN the
final decree of battle. The Presidents
reception of the appeal was honorable
and becoming, and unquestionably his
conduct is approved by the country.
''The courage, bravery, and fortitude
of both sides, says Senator Sherman,
''are now the pride and herita gre
of us ALL" s'The patriotic sem
timents accompanying the invita-
ton which have received, and the
fraternal feeling therein expressed, 1
gladly recognize as proofs that in the
present conditions every American citi-
zen may share in the pride inspired by
the illustration of the traits which have
ennobled American character says
President Cleveland. This was the
proper response, dignified, Just. pa
triotic, not honoring the cause in which
the soldier fought, but the honesty and
the bravery with which he gave his life
for his convictions. It is the same no.
BILE feeling which led Southern soldier
to say at the dedication of statue to
the "Union Volunteer" when the
orator said that the time would come
when the soldier in gray would agree
that the boy in blue fought and died
for the South as well as the North.
"Don't say will come,' for it has
come"
The disappearance of mere rancorous
memories of the war. not grateful ac-
acknowledgement of its earnest purpose
and it's glorious result, but reiteration
: of its details and horrors and enmities,
is one of the most significant and graf
flying facts of the time. The anniver-
sary of Lees surrender passed few
days since without remark and without
general remembrance. The hero of
the Union army, General Grant him.
self, led in this humane and honorable
conduct toward his opponents in the
field. His generous terms at Apo
mattox were never forgotten, and they
struck the keynote of the feeling of
the actual soldier of the war on both
sides. His last words in the dedica-
tion of his Memoirs, "These volumes
are dedicated to the American soldier
and sailor" not TO any class of them,
but to every sincere and courageous
American in the military or naval serv-
ice, showed what is otherwise well
known, the simple magnanimity of the
great Union General. Such incidents
as these are among the most precious
and significant which History will
gather into her golden urn," and they
are among the chief reasons of a lofty
National pride.-Harper's Weekly.